Beginner Gardening: New beds - Need planting advice, 1 by

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Rod~ the direction of the sun facing your arborvitae most of the day will influence your bed depth and length for growing flowers. The winter snows and ice affects the arborvitae. Note some are missing large branches, some are significantly shorter due to varying sun perspectives. These are about 5-6 years mature from planting. Just a note, be sure to educate yourself about bagworms and yearly treatment, as they love arborvitae and will take them down to the Death if left untreated! I do have sun loving perennials emerging, one being coneflower,so rudbeckias will do as well. Also, I have many shade loving perennials and annuals in that bed as well. This is only part of the bed, so you can get an idea of what I'm describing. Note there is a peace rose waking up, with cottage pinks and bachelor buttons. Behind and to the side the rose, are hostas emerging. Further up the hedge (out of view) the Japanese maple is beginning to bud and the larkspurs are germinating while further down ( also out of view) the digitalis and sweet alyssums are waking up.Just the same, welcome the changing opportunities for both shade and sun perennials along with annuals in your bed as the arbovitae grow in height and width.